Bishops in the Philippines have joined civil authorities in inviting the faithful to pray for doctors and health workers who are “on the frontline” fighting against the coronavirus (Covid-19). President Rodrigo Duterte declared the fourth week of March ‘National Prayer Week’ to spiritually unite Filipinos of all faiths and religions amid the threat of Covid-19.…
Indonesia Holy Week celebrations go online due to coronavirus Several dioceses in Indonesia are to hold Holy Week celebrations in churches without congregations as coronavirus (Covid-19) cases continue to rise in the country. The celebrations of Holy Week, daily Masses and Sunday Masses will now be live-streamed online or broadcast on radio instead. The Jakarta…
Easter liturgies cannot be postponed, says the Vatican The liturgies of Holy Week and Easter cannot be moved, according to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. While conferences and meetings can be postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the congregation said these liturgies could not be cancelled in guidelines issued last week.…
With self-isolation becoming more widespread due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis thanked journalists and members of the media who inform people and help them cope with loneliness. “Today, I would like us to pray for all those who work in the media, who work to communicate so that people don’t find themselves so isolated,…
Pope Francis has appealed for a global ceasefire on Sunday as countries work to defend their populations from the coronavirus pandemic. “The current emergency of Covid-19 … knows no borders,” Pope Francis said on March 29 in his Angelus broadcast. The Pope urged nations in conflict to respond to an appeal made by the United…
Catholic dioceses and religious orders across Europe are offering to turn Church facilities into spaces needed for health care or housing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Church leaders throughout Europe have been struggling to maintain Catholic religious devotions during enforced national lockdowns against the coronavirus. They have also sought ways, in addition to regular aid from…
Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the many men and women who have been inspired to help the poor and accompany the sick and the elderly during the coronavirus pandemic. “These days, news has arrived of how many people are beginning to have a general concern for others – caring about the families who do…
The Vatican has asked Catholic bishops around the world, both in the Latin rite and the Eastern Catholic Churches, to provide their faithful with resources to support personal and family prayer during Holy Week and at Easter, especially where Covid-19 restrictions prevent them from going to church. The Congregation for Eastern Churches urged the heads…
Dioceses in Italy have reported the deaths of around 50 priests as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, according to official Church sources in the country. Avvenire, the Italian newspaper owned by the Italian bishops’ conference, attributes the majority of these priests’ deaths to Covid-19. The publication also noted two cases where Fr Guido…
Bishops in New Zealand have criticised the decision to pass a new abortion bill approved by the country’s legislature last week. The country’s House of Representatives passed the Abortion Legislation Bill on March 18, legalising abortion throughout the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. “There is no longer any recognition of the rights of the unborn…